Tana Acton

Born in Birmingham, Michigan to Cranbrook Art School parents, Tana Acton has lived a life focused on creative and artistic expression. Schooled at home and throughout the U.S., and abroad, Acton earned an Antioch College BFA in painting, and completed the Parsons School of Design Fashion Design program. In Florence, Italy she studied with Tomaso after silver-smithing in Haystack's high school program with Glenda Arentzen. Both as artist and entrepreneur, she started with craft fairs at the age of 16. Acton then progressed to graphic art, dance, choreography, painting, and eventually fashion design for some of New York's leading knitwear and housewares companies.

Through her unique perspective as designer/choreographer, she combines air, movement, and light to create pieces that are at once delicate and solid. Acton's jewelry line is contemporary, lightweight, affordable, and can be worn casually or dressed up. Acton utilizes textile technology in metal, wrapping silver or gold-filled wire over a sculptural framework, sometimes incorporating gemstone beads or pearls in her bracelets and rings.

The filament is wrapped precisely and tautly on it frame structure or “loom” in a technique typically associated with thread or a similar textile. Some pieces have a kinetic element housed in the structure or riding on the crossing wires. The fabric created has a faceted effect from the light finding each individual crossing, yet leaving space and air to breathe through each piece. Her work is featured in fine craft galleries, museum stores, and boutiques throughout the U.S.